What Exactly Is Rainwater Harvesting And How Is It Done Properly?

As millions of people deal with drought and the rising cost of water, many are learning how to harvest rainwater.

Most people aren’t aware that their home is a potential powerhouse of rainwater catchment. For example, a home of 1,000 square feet can capture more than 10,000 gallons of rain a year in an area of moderate rainfall. This free water can be used to irrigate the garden and lawn, refill toilets, wash laundry and, if filtered and purified, can even be used as drinking water.

Nearly two decades ago, Doug Pushard was living in Austin, Texas, and decided to build his own rainwater catchment system. He quickly realized information on how to do so was scarce. After that experience, Pushard created HarvestH20.com, a website dedicated to the advancement of sustainable water management practices for individuals, families, communities and businesses. The site contains a wealth of information on how to get started, what catchment system is right for various types of households and how to filter water.

Pushard also designs and works with homeowners and contractors to install residential water management systems of all kinds. He said the concept of rainwater harvesting is simple: Don’t let the free water leave your property.

The off-the-grid living movement has gained steam in recent years and, as a result, Pushard said, he works with many people who want a more secure water source. Another common concern he hears from clients is that they fear what’s in the municipal water system.

Also, the rising cost of water is causing a lot of people to rethink where they get their water from. An average family of four in the United States uses about 100 gallons per person per day and pays an average of $72.93 a month for water.

Before you start trying to harvest rainwater, you’ll want to find out the laws in your state. With stories of people in some states facing legal consequences for harvesting rainwater, the notion of rainwater catchment being illegal gained traction. However, in the eastern U. S., landowners usually own the rainwater and, therefore, are free to capture as much rainwater they want. In many states, it’s even encouraged.

Whatever you use to catch rainwater, Pushard says there are so many uses for it that we need to rethink how we use this limited resource by constantly exploring ways to use and reuse outside water inside the house and inside water outside the house instead of just letting it run down the street or absorb into the ground.

Produced in association with AccuWeather